Sol Campbell: I'm ready to play for England at World Cup

Sol Campbell today claimed he is ready to play for England at the World Cup and insists he remains "a natural" competitor at international level.

Injuries to Thomas Vermaelen and William Gallas have enabled Campbell, 35, to make 12 starts since re-signing for Arsenal in January and his form has prompted Arsene Wenger to open talks over a one-year deal.

With doubts over the fitness of Rio Ferdinand, Ledley King and Joleon Lescott and the form of Matthew Upson, England manager Fabio Capello is thought to be pondering a dramatic recall for Campbell.

The centre-back has never been selected by the Italian and won the last of his 73 caps in November 2007 when England lost 3-2 to Croatia and failed to qualify for Euro 2008.

He told Standard Sport: "I would never give up on England. I have played for England since I was 14 so it comes naturally to me.

"Okay, I have not been in the squad for a while but circumstances have changed. There are a lot of players who have been injured and I have got a chance.

"I think my name has moved up the list over the last three or four months but whether it has moved enough, we will have to wait and see. If Fabio picks me to go to the squad I will give it my all. That's me and I have always played like that. If I am involved in the 30-man squad then we will go from there. If not, I will go again and keep on playing domestic football."

Campbell's top-flight career appeared over when signing a five-year deal with Notts County only to walk out after one game against Morecambe last September.

Speaking at the launch of the Bobby Moore iPod range at Harrods, Campbell added: "I am a fighter. I had to start from the bottom again. Literally start again. I got on with it, rolled my sleeves up and worked hard. It wasn't easy, believe me."